CBI registers FIR against Nitesh Rane, two others

The Central Bureau of Investigating (CBI) on Thursday registered a first information report (FIR) in connection with the firing on Chintu Shaikh, a member of Swabhimaan Sanghathana, an outfit led by Nitesh Rane, son of state industries minister Narayan Rane.

Nitesh’s two bodyguards are also named as accused in the FIR. Shaikh had alleged that on September 23, 2010, Nitesh had shot at him twice in his Khar office. He alleged that a bullet grazed his cheek, causing an injury.

He first filed a complaint with Powai police, which was later transferred to Khar police.

As there was no progress in this, Shaikh filed a petition in the Bombay high court in October 2010 alleging that the police were trying to shield Nitesh at the behest of his father and sought the probe be transferred to the CBI.

The government transferred the probe to the crime branch, but there was no breakthrough and they were also toeing the same line as that of Khar police station.

The high court had last month transferred the probe to the CBI. Following this, the special crime branch of the CBI registered an FIR under the Indian Penal Code sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention).

CBI sources said that so far no summons had been issued to Nitesh and two others. CBI has also not ruled out adding more names in the complaint.

Sources said that the agency would first record statement of Shaikh, following which summons would be issued to Nitesh and others.